kelly



(No Model.) L 2 Sheets-Shet 1. 0. W. KELLY & L. P. DIETER.

TRAGTION ENGINE. No. 310,443. \aPatented Jan. 6. 1885.

v JHQt 6 2L Invent 01's /M ByiherClllivav-ns (No Model.) Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. WIKELLY & L. F. DIETE TRACTION ENGINE.

No. 310,448. Patented Jan. 6, 1885.

d 1 H d s V v (52g I, lruvnij fi s f g E Zfieir aiiarne I M /W%4W .7 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER IV. KELLY AND LOUIS F. DIETER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, AS- SIGNORS TO THE SPRINGFIELD ENGINE AND THRESHER COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

TRACTION-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 310,443, dated January 6, 1885.

Application filed September 1, 1854.

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern Be it known that we, OLIvER W. KELLY and LoUIs F. DIETER, citizens of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tract-iorrEngines, of which the following is a specifieation.

Our invention relates to improvements in traction-engines, and particularly relates to the mechanism for connecting the forward axle to the boiler and frame.

The invention consists in certain novel c011- structions and combinations, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the boiler and frame of a tractiou-engine embodying our invention, the front axle and devices for supporting the boiler thereon being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the connecting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the boiler-frame and front axle, showing the manner of establishing a direct connection from said frame to said axle, and showing in section asleeve about the forward axle on which the connecting mechanism is supported. Figs. 4-, 5, and 6 are sectional views of some of the parts in detail, re ferred to hereinafter.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference throughout the several views.

In said drawings, A represents the boiler, B the frame attached thereto, G the main axle, on which the frame is supported, and D the front axle, on which the forward end of the boiler is supported, as hereinafter more fully described. The front axle carries at each end a guiding-wheel, D, and is adapted to turn in either direction 011 a vertical axis, in order that the said guiding-wheels may be brought to stand at an angle to the line of forward direction, and thereby change the course of the engine from a straight line as desired.

In passing over rough or uneven roads it frequently happens that one guiding-wheel, and consequently one end of the front axle, is elevated more than the other. It is therefore desirable that the connection between the said (No model.)

axle and the boiler be such as to admit of a variation in the vertical angle of said axle to the boiler, in order that the boiler may remain in an upright position without regard to the position of the guiding-wheels. It is also desirable that the connection between said boiler and axle be in its nature flexile or yielding, so that the shocks or jars occasioned by passing over the rough or uneven roads will not be transmitted to the boiler. We accomplish this by means of a balland-socket joint, in connection with a spring between the axle and the boiler, as hereinafter more fully described. The front axle, D, extends through a sleeve, E, on the top of which at the center is cast a cup or socket, E. In this socket E 'isseated the ball-shaped spring-case F, adapted to receive the coiled spring a. This spring a rests at the lower end on the bottom of the ball-shaped spring-case F, and at the top direct-ly'against the boiler A.

Surrounding the spring'case F is an outer casing, F, secured to the boiler and adapted to come down well over the socket E. This outer casing, F, is provided on the inside with two ways or guides, b Z), on which the spring-case is adapted to slide in a vertical direction. (See Figs. 2 and 6.)

The casing F is cylindrical in shape, and, as before stated, is secured directly to the boiler.

The spring-case F is provided at the top with a cylindrical flange, 0, adapted to fit loosely in the cylindrical outer casing, F, and provided with grooves c, said grooves being adapted to fit over the guides b Z) in the outer casing, F. The lower part of the cylindrical casing F is somewhat smaller than the upper portion, and is adapted to come up close to the outside of the cup or socket E, said cup or socket being formed on the outside concentric with the ball in spring-case F. The spring, as well as the ball and socket, is thus completely closed and kept free from dust or dirt.

The spring-case F is held in place in the socket E by a pin, 1), which passes through the socket E, and thence directly through the axle D and sleeve E. The pin 2 is provided with a circular head which rests in a bearing in the bot tom of said spring-ease, the said bearing and pin-head both being formed concentric with the socket E. The opening in the bottom of the spring-case through which the pin passes is made conical in shape, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the ball-shaped end of the spring-case is free to turn to a limited extent in any direction in the socket E. By this construction it will be seen that the axle D is adapted to oscillate vertically, to compensate for the difference in line of the guiding-wheels, without affecting the position of the boiler, the said oscillating movement being effected without regard to the position of the said axle on the vertical axis. The axle D is preferably made square between the guiding-wheels, except at the center, where the pin 1) passes through it. At this point it is enlarged to secure the necessary strength around the pin. The sleeve E surrounds the axle D, and is adapted at each end to closely fit around the square portions of said axle, with a bearing thereon to secure rigidity and distribute the weight of the boiler more evenly on said axle. The middle portion of the sleeve is chambered out, so that it will readily pass over the enlarged portion of the axle. The axle at the square part, on which the respective ends of the sleeve bear, is con siderably smaller than at the center,where the ping; passes through. The sleeve, therefore, is made with a separate cap-piece, (1, adapted to slip over the axle in an opposite direction to the main portion of the sleeve,and join the main portion at the point where the chamber orenlarged portion begins. This cap (1 forms the bearing for one end of the sleeve on the axle, and is adapted to besecured .rigidly to the main portion of the sleeve by bolts-d, as shown in Fig. 5, or inany other suitable manner. The pin 11, passing directly through the spring-case F, socket E, axle D,and sleeve E, holds the various parts firmly together, at the same time permitting the parts to move freely to perform their functions, as described.

In order that the boiler may be relieved from the thrust communicated from the tractioirwheels to the front axle, means are pro vided for connecting the frame and rear por tion of the boiler directly to the front axle, thereby transmitting the traction or pushingstrain direct from the traction-wheels to the forward axle. \Ve preferably accomplish this by connecting the ends of the side frame, B, together at the rear of the lire-box by a bar, H, and extending a push-rod, J, from said cross-bar H to the sleer e E on the front axle.

In order that the push-rod J may not interfere with the turning of the axle on the vertical axis, we attach the push-rod directly to the pin 1), said pin being passed through said push-rod and adapted to turn therein.

To compensate for the oscillation of the axle in a vertical plane, we provide the pushrod at the rear end with a connecting-block, K, (see Fi 4,) in which the rear end of the push-rod is journaled. The connecting-block is preferably made in two parts, riveted or otherwise secured together around the push rod, said push-rod being turned down to form a shoulder, 0, adapted to fit in a chambered recess in the block K, in such a manner that the rod is free to turn in said block, but is held against longitudinal movement therein. By this construction it will be seen that the power to push the front axle is transmitted directly from the rear of the fire-box to the front axle, thus relieving the forward portion of the boiler from the pushing-strain. By connecting the main axle direct to the frame around the boiler the pushing-strain istransmitted direct from the traction-wheels to the front axle. The forward end of the boiler, as before described, is supported upon a spring to relieve the boiler from the jars in passing over rough or uneven roads. hen the engine is to be used as a stationary engine, however, it is desirable that the boiler be held rigidly over the axle while the engine is running. To accomplish this we insert in the outer casing, F, asmall handscrew, f, adapted to extend through the outer casing and bear against the spring-case F- This hand;screw is placed at right angles to the plane of the ribs or guides I) b, and when screwed up tight against the spring-case F binds the said springcase tightly against the said guides, and thus holds the spring-ease firmly against vertical movement thereon. The ribs or guides b b, it will be seen, hold the spring-case and spring from turning in the outer casing, F, the said spring-case being free to move vertically in said outer casing, except when held by the handscrew e, as just described. The spring a is thus relieved from the strain which would result from any turning of the spring case in the socket.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1.. The combination, with the front axle and the sleeve thereon, of the socket on said sleeve, the spring-case provided with the ball-shaped end adapted to turn in said socket, and the spring supporting the boiler on said springcasc, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the front axle and the sleeve thereon, of the socket on said sleeve, the ballshaped spring-case adapted to turn in said socket, the outer casing secured to said boiler, and provided with guides for said spring case, and the spring supporting the boiler 011 said spring case, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the front axle and the sleeve thereon, of the socket on said sleeve, the ball-shaped spring-case adapted to turn in said socket and to form abearing for a spring supporting the boiler thereon, an outer casingprovided with guides for said spring-case, and a handscrew for tightening said spring-case on said guides, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the front axle, of the ball-and-socket connection from said axle sleeve, a ball-shaped connection from the boilto the boiler, a frame supporting the tractionwheels, and a push-rod connecting said frame and axle, said push-rod being connected to said frame by a coupling, in which the end of said push-rod isjournaled, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the front axle, of the sleeve supported thereon, a socket on said er adapted to turn in said socket, and the pin passing through said ball, socket, axle, and sleeve, substantially as set forth.

6. The co1nbination,\vith the boiler and axle, of a socket on said axle, a ball-shaped springsupport adapted to turn in said socket, aspring between said spring support and boiler, guides for holding said spring-support from turning, and means for tightening said support on said guides, substantially as specified.

7. The combination, With the boiler and sleeve, a spring-connection between said boiler and sleeve, of the axle passing through said sleeve, a push-rod connected to said axle, and a pin passing directly through said sleeve, push-rod, and axle, substantially as specified.

8. The combination, with the front axle and sleeve, supporting a ball-andsocket connection thereon, of a spring supporting the boiler on said ball-and-socket connection, a frame adapted to support the traction-wheels, and a puslrrod connecting said frameand axle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 28th day of August, A. D. 1884;.

OLIVER NV. KELLY. LOUIS F. DIETER.

\Vitnesses:

CHASE STEWART, PAUL A. STALEY. 

